Nikon D850 vs Sony A7R III

The Nikon D850 and the Sony Alpha A7R III are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively,
in July 2017 and October 2017. The D850 is a DSLR, while the A7R III is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Both cameras are equipped with a full frame sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 45.4 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 42.2 MP. Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their sensors, their features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Nikon D850 vs Sony A7R III

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Nikon D850 and the Sony A7R III is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Sony A7R III is considerably smaller (33 percent) than the Nikon D850. Moreover, the A7R III is substantially lighter (35 percent) than the D850. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. Both cameras have similarly sized sensors, but DSLRs have a larger flange-to-focal plane distance than mirrorless cameras,
which imposes contraints on the optical engineering process and generally leads to bigger and heavier lenses.
You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Nikon Lens Catalog (D850) and the Sony FE Lens Catalog (A7R III). Mirrorless cameras, such as the A7R III, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

Concerning battery life, the D850 gets 1840 shots out of its EN-EL15a battery,
while the A7R III can take 650 images on a single charge of its NP-FZ100 power pack. The power pack in the A7R III can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, just use the right or left
arrows in the table to switch to the respective camera. Alternatively, you can also navigate to the CAM-parator app and
make your selection from the full list of cameras there.

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The A7R III was somewhat cheaper (by 3 percent) than the D850 at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison: Nikon D850 vs Sony A7R III

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a full frame sensor, but their sensors
differ slightly in size. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

In terms of underlying technology, both cameras are build around BSI-CMOS sensors.

Despite having a slightly smaller sensor, the Nikon D850 offers a higher
resolution of 45.4 megapixels, compared with 42.2 MP of the Sony A7R III.
This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel
(with a pixel pitch of 4.35μm versus 4.52μm for the A7R III). Moreover, it should be noted that the A7R III is a somewhat more recent model (by 3 months) than the D850, and its sensor
might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The A7R III has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during video recording.

Unlike the D850, the A7R III has the capacity to capture high quality composite images by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Nikon D850 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 64 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 32-102400.
The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A7R III are ISO 100 to ISO 32000, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-102400..

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

Camera Model

Sensor Class

Resolution (MP)

Horiz. Pixels

Vert. Pixels

Video Format

DXO Portrait

DXO Landscape

DXO Sports

DXO Overall

Camera Model

Nikon D850»

Full Frame

45.4

8256

5504

4K/30p

26.4

14.8

2660

100

Nikon D850

Sony A7R III«

Full Frame

42.2

7952

5304

4K/30p

26.0

14.7

3523

100

Sony A7R III

Canon 5DS«»

Full Frame

50.3

8688

5792

1080/60p

24.7

12.4

2381

87

Canon 5DS

Canon 5DS R«»

Full Frame

50.3

8688

5792

1080/60p

24.6

12.4

2308

86

Canon 5DS R

Nikon D5«»

Full Frame

20.7

5588

3712

4K/30p

25.1

12.3

2343

88

Nikon D5

Nikon D810«»

Full Frame

36.2

7360

4912

1080/60p

25.7

14.8

2853

97

Nikon D810

Nikon Df«»

Full Frame

16.2

4928

3280

-

24.6

13.1

3279

89

Nikon Df

Nikon D610«»

Full Frame

24.2

6016

4016

1080/30p

25.1

14.4

2925

94

Nikon D610

Nikon D600«»

Full Frame

24.2

6016

4016

1080/30p

25.1

14.2

2980

94

Nikon D600

Nikon D800«»

Full Frame

36.2

7360

4912

1080/30p

25.3

14.4

2853

95

Nikon D800

Nikon D800E«»

Full Frame

36.2

7360

4912

1080/30p

25.6

14.3

2979

96

Nikon D800E

Sony A7 III«»

Full Frame

24.0

6000

4000

4K/30p

25.0

14.7

3730

96

Sony A7 III

Sony A9«»

Full Frame

24.0

6000

4000

4K/30p

24.9

13.3

3517

92

Sony A9

Sony A99 II«»

Full Frame

42.2

7952

5304

4K/30p

25.4

13.4

2317

92

Sony A99 II

Sony A7R II«»

Full Frame

42.2

7952

5304

4K/30p

26.0

13.9

3434

98

Sony A7R II

Sony A7S II«»

Full Frame

12.0

4240

2832

4K/30p

23.6

13.3

2993

85

Sony A7S II

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).

Feature comparison: Nikon D850 vs Sony A7R III

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A7R III has an electronic viewfinder (3686k dots), while the D850 has an optical one.
Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information
into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Nikon D850 and Sony A7R III along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

Camera Model

Viewfinder (Type or '000 dots)

Control Panel (yes/no)

LCD Size (inch)

LCD Resolution ('000 dots)

LCD Attach- ment

Touch Screen (yes/no)

Shutter speed (1/sec)

Shutter flaps (1/sec)

Built-in Flash (yes/no)

Built-in Image Stab

Camera Model

Nikon D850»

optical

Y

3.2

2359

tilting

Y

8000

9.0

n

n

Nikon D850

Sony A7R III«

3686

n

3.0

1440

tilting

Y

8000

10.0

n

Y

Sony A7R III

Canon 5DS«»

optical

Y

3.2

1040

fixed

n

8000

5.0

n

n

Canon 5DS

Canon 5DS R«»

optical

Y

3.2

1040

fixed

n

8000

5.0

n

n

Canon 5DS R

Nikon D5«»

optical

Y

3.2

2359

fixed

Y

8000

14.0

n

n

Nikon D5

Nikon D810«»

optical

Y

3.2

1229

fixed

n

8000

5.0

Y

n

Nikon D810

Nikon Df«»

optical

Y

3.2

921

fixed

n

4000

5.5

n

n

Nikon Df

Nikon D610«»

optical

Y

3.2

921

fixed

n

4000

6.0

Y

n

Nikon D610

Nikon D600«»

optical

Y

3.0

921

fixed

n

4000

5.5

Y

n

Nikon D600

Nikon D800«»

optical

Y

3.2

921

fixed

n

8000

4.0

Y

n

Nikon D800

Nikon D800E«»

optical

Y

3.2

921

fixed

n

8000

4.0

Y

n

Nikon D800E

Sony A7 III«»

2359

n

3.0

922

tilting

Y

8000

10.0

n

Y

Sony A7 III

Sony A9«»

3686

n

3.0

1440

tilting

Y

8000

20.0

n

Y

Sony A9

Sony A99 II«»

2400

Y

3.0

1229

full-flex

n

8000

12.0

n

Y

Sony A99 II

Sony A7R II«»

2400

n

3.0

1229

tilting

n

8000

5.0

n

Y

Sony A7R II

Sony A7S II«»

2400

n

3.0

1229

tilting

n

8000

5.0

n

Y

Sony A7S II

One feature that is present on the D850, but is missing on the A7R III is a top-level LCD.
While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The reported shutter speed and shutter burst refer to the use of the mechanical shutter. In addition, the A7R III features
an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or
shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The D850 writes its imaging data to SDHC or XQD cards, while the A7R III uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails.

Connectivity comparison: Nikon D850 vs Sony A7R III

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D850 and Sony Alpha A7R III and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

Camera Model

Hotshoe Port

Internal Microphone

Internal Speaker

Microphone Port

Headphone Port

HDMI Port

USB Type

WiFi Support

NFC Support

Bluetooth Support

Camera Model

Nikon D850»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

Y

Y

Y

Nikon D850

Sony A7R III«

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

3.1

Y

Y

Y

Sony A7R III

Canon 5DS«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

3.0

-

-

-

Canon 5DS

Canon 5DS R«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

3.0

-

-

-

Canon 5DS R

Nikon D5«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

-

-

-

Nikon D5

Nikon D810«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

Y

-

-

Nikon D810

Nikon Df«»

Y

-

-

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Nikon Df

Nikon D610«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

Y

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Nikon D610

Nikon D600«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

Y

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Nikon D600

Nikon D800«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

-

-

-

Nikon D800

Nikon D800E«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

-

-

-

Nikon D800E

Sony A7 III«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

3.1

Y

Y

Y

Sony A7 III

Sony A9«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Sony A9

Sony A99 II«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Sony A99 II

Sony A7R II«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony A7R II

Sony A7S II«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony A7S II

Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.

Both the D850 and the A7R III are recent models that feature in their makers' current product line-up. The D850 replaced the earlier Nikon D810, while the A7R III followed on from the Sony A7R II.

Review summary: Nikon D850 vs Sony A7R III

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Nikon D850 or the Sony A7R III – has the upper hand? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Advantages of the Nikon D850:

Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.

Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A7R III is the clear winner of the contest (11 : 6 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision.

D850 06:11 A7R III

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the handling experience and imaging performance when actually working with the D850 or the A7R III. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews: Nikon D850 vs Sony A7R III

This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). The full reviews are available by clicking on the site logo in the table header.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.